Saints Nation: The Only Thing Holding Chris Ivory Back is Ball Security
 

Chris Ivory has played so well the last two weeks there's almost no way the Saints can go back to shelving him on the inactive list again. If nothing else, he's secured his spot in the rotation as a situational runner for the Saints. But why did it take so long for the Saints to plug him in there, especially when Mark Ingram had performed so poorly, and why are the Saints still reluctant to commit to him? Well, turns out it's pretty simple: ball security.

Ivory has struggled with fumbles in the past, never worse than in preseason and training camp this year. The fact of the matter is, this Saints offense simply can't afford turnovers because they have zero margin for error with as bad as the defense has been. That's why the coaching staff largely feels Ivory is a liability right now. Even in the last two games, you can tell his technique scares them, and it should. Why else would only have seen 7 carries when darted 56 yards for the run of the Saints season? He carries the football far too wide and away from his body when making jukes and cuts. He's fortunate to not have fumbled yet, but you know the more reps he sees that it's coming.

Consider these statistics: Darren Sproles, in 1,098 career touches has fumbled 13 times. That's 1.18% of the time. Mark Ingram, in 206 career touches, has fumbled just once. That's 0.49% of the time. Pierre Thomas, in 851 career touches, has fumbled 4 times. That's 0.47% of the time. Then there's Ivory, who is 236 touches has fumbled 4 times. That's 1.7% of the time. So Ivory has a fumble rate about 3.5 times higher than both Thomas and Ingram.

So when you ask yourself why he hasn't been playing, the answer is pretty simple. The Saints don't trust him to be secure with the football like they trust Ingram, Thomas and Sproles. Ultimately, the benefit you may get in yardage from Ivory over any of those three is in theory negligible enough that it's not worth the extra turnovers. While Ivory is a great back, his lack of playing time has less to do with the Saints coaching staff and more to do with his poor ball security. Fix that problem, as there is no more excuses for not playing him.

Saints Nation: The Only Thing Holding Chris Ivory Back is Ball Security

Re: Saints Nation: The Only Thing Holding Chris Ivory Back is Ball Security
 

Are you F****** Serious?!

This is the most ridiculous four paragraphs in print. LOL
Let the man carry the ball. He's yard for yard one of the better backs to wear a Saints jersey.

Brees throws interceptions. So what.

And INGRAM? Ingram? In 206 carries, what does he have, 205 yards? Not much threat of a fumble running over the back of a guard now is there?

If it's insensitive to say "retarded", then this waste of written word is well, RETARDED.

Alaska

Re: Saints Nation: The Only Thing Holding Chris Ivory Back is Ball Security
 

C'mon! He hasn't fumbled in 2 games. I'll admit I questioned him a lot in his first year with the Saints because he did seem to fumble a lot but now he seems to be holding the ball well. People can talk smack about ingram all they want, but he hasnt fumbled yet to fumble this year and he has really been getting it going these past 2 games.

Re: Saints Nation: The Only Thing Holding Chris Ivory Back is Ball Security
 

Did you question that he was our leading rusher?
And Ingram has been getting it going because he has Ivory's cleated foot up his azz.

Alaska

Re: Saints Nation: The Only Thing Holding Chris Ivory Back is Ball Security
 

Leading rusher means nothing if you cant hold on to the ball.

Re: Saints Nation: The Only Thing Holding Chris Ivory Back is Ball Security
 

That's like saying leading passer means nothing if you throw interceptions.

Ridiculous.

Alaska

Re: Saints Nation: The Only Thing Holding Chris Ivory Back is Ball Security
 

I fail to see your comparison, but ok?

Re: Saints Nation: The Only Thing Holding Chris Ivory Back is Ball Security
 

What fumbles has Ivory committed this season??? I can't remember seeing one. Oh and the "Ivory can't catch" thing is also moot.

Re: Saints Nation: The Only Thing Holding Chris Ivory Back is Ball Security
 

Keep running Ivory until he screws up is my take. So far this season, he hasn't screwed up. But seriously, I get the position the Saints have on him. It is very true that a single turnover can and probably will cost the Saints a win. For the most part Ivory isn't that great at protecting the ball, but I think he is getting there. The only way to get better is to keep playing, so lets see.

If Ivory can get past the issues of protecting the ball, and the Saints staff can get confidence in him, he is a legitimate threat to have a 1600 yard plus season. Not this year, but maybe moving on.

Wow the ivory haters are back! Didn't take that long.

BRING THE TUSK! We have a good chemistry with the Ingram + Ivory combo right now with Ingram getting more carries.

Re: Saints Nation: The Only Thing Holding Chris Ivory Back is Ball Security
 

Fix the D and we can afford a few turnovers, MatthewT is right Ivory is a 1600 yd. runner. westbankdaze makes a good point about the tandum of Ivory and Ingram but I would feed Ivory more than Ingram. It takes Ingram seeing the ball more to get his yds. To me we have the 2nd coming of Galbreath and Muncie. Galbreath wasn't great but good, Muncie was leathal anytime he touched the ball and run hard. I've always been a big fan of a true runner and thats exactly what we have in Ivory. Fumbles are going to happen thats the game, you don't want it happening alot and 1.7% to possibly gain 1600+ yds. a season is not alot.

Re: Saints Nation: The Only Thing Holding Chris Ivory Back is Ball Security
 

What hate are you referring to? The only hate I've read on this thread was aimed at Ingram, and the writer.

Re: Saints Nation: The Only Thing Holding Chris Ivory Back is Ball Security
 

Suprises me how people can't give Ingram his props, yeah ivory is the better back and has shown it, but instead of being happy with two productive rushers it always starts the "this person sucks thread" or "he's better Than him"

Ingram has been playing better recently, ivory has been playing great, why can't people appreciate Ingram has been playing better and be happy we have backs that are producing

Re: Saints Nation: The Only Thing Holding Chris Ivory Back is Ball Security
 

First play from scrimmage last week? Interception. Not the end of the world.

A fumble is bound to happen, but it's ridiculous to label a man a fumbler who clearly is not a serial fumbler.

You couldn't trade him so you label him a fumbler. Sounds like envy that some backs are doing alot better than others.

Who DAT?!

Alaska

I laughed at the whole percentages part.... Good times

Re: Saints Nation: The Only Thing Holding Chris Ivory Back is Ball Security
 

Let's just be thankful we have 3 good power backs we can give the ball to! I remember a couple of years ago when Thomas was hurt a good RB was hard to find!

Re: Saints Nation: The Only Thing Holding Chris Ivory Back is Ball Security
 

I wonder what everyone would say if this week he fumbles and it cost us the game? I know, If if was a fifth we'd all be drunk, right?

Re: Saints Nation: The Only Thing Holding Chris Ivory Back is Ball Security
 

Well I don't know, he GAVE us a game last week and the week before. How do you feel about Brees, Moore or Colston costing us a game?! Harper and Jenkins have contributed to some lost games, as has Ingram's failed one-yard run in G.B. Hartley? But they all get dressed as Saints on Sunday and we root for them.

Stick to the facts: Ivory has NOT cost us a game. And everyone will get that chance if they stick around long enough.

Once he does, he will be lopped in with everyone else who has, but he'll still be a Saint.

Right now, the Saint credited with the most turnovers is Drew Brees. Not too hard to figure out.

Now, what you have to look forward to is Ivory getting stripped of the ball on a run. Just so you can say... SEE !!!! Good luck with that and for the sake of all of us I hope it doesn't happen for a LONG time.

Alaska

Re: Saints Nation: The Only Thing Holding Chris Ivory Back is Ball Security
 

The same reason people can't say the defense has been looking better.

Some people prefer being negative I guess.

Re: Saints Nation: The Only Thing Holding Chris Ivory Back is Ball Security
 

Ivory's a beast. I love to watch him run. I don't think I'll forget the way he trucked Dunta Robinson and don't think Robinson will forget it anytime soon either. Ivory's the most fun and exciting rusher we've had in a long time. Those are my opinions.

But this article is spot on. The facts are Ivory's fumble percentage is one of the worst in the league. That's not opinion, that's fact.

He has fumbled every 59 times he's touched the ball
By comparison
Ingram has fumbled once for 209 touches
Thomas has fumbled once for every 193 touches
Sproles has fumbled once for every 316 times he's touched the ball.

Arian Foster fumbles every once for every 113 times he gets the ball.

Adrian Peterson had a reputation as a fumbler and he only fumbles once every 79 times he gets a touch. Almost one and a half times better than Ivory.

Ryan Mathews is far and away the best back in San Diego and he's been benched for a fumbling percentage similar to Ivory's and they didn't have the quality options that the Saints had.

Again, those are the facts.

My opinion is...

I think the Saints coaches have done exactly what they should have given the circumstances. They've got 4 quality backs to choose from so they've chosen to go with the safest ones. We heard reports that Ivory had more fumbling trouble in training camp this year. I don't blame them at all for the choices they made.

That being said, the Saints run game was an epic failure over the first 7 games. Sproles injury opened up a roster spot so they took the opportunity to shake things up a bit and give CI a chance. Ivory has stepped up in a huge way. I'm glad he's gotten the chance to shine and his production has raised the level of the entire offense. Ivory's fumbling percentage is based on a fairly small sample size so maybe his fumbling was a statistical anomaly. I'd like Ivory to have a long and productive future with the Saints.

Re: Saints Nation: The Only Thing Holding Chris Ivory Back is Ball Security
 

The problem with playing Ivory is that he has been prone to fumble. This preseason and so far this year at practice he's been doing just that. I was replaying the game and literally cringing watching him sling the ball around for balance. The team is getting better and could possibly afford a turn over, :bng:but I'm not so sure and neither are the coaches.
With out a doubt he sparks this team with his running and his attitude.
He is a restricted free agent next year and by then he will either have trade value or the coaches will do their job and coach him up. We need to remember that the coaches see him run more than we do and should be able to evaluate him better.
Sproles broken hand sounded bad at the time but may be a mixed blessing.:cool:

Re: Saints Nation: The Only Thing Holding Chris Ivory Back is Ball Security
 

Practice conducted at 100% full-on collarbone-shattering ability?

RUN, IVORY, RUN

Our "greatest receiver" fumbles 1 in 82. By the end of the year, he may be more of a fumble liability than even Ivory. Yikes.

Alaska

Re: Saints Nation: The Only Thing Holding Chris Ivory Back is Ball Security
 

That's a great visual!

Run Ivory Run!!!

Re: Saints Nation: The Only Thing Holding Chris Ivory Back is Ball Security
 

It is a numbers game...the more anyone touches the ball the more chances for fumbles. The problem is Ivory is the most fumble prone back we have. It is also a fact that his reliability has been an issue because he is injury prone. So far the Saints have been lucky on both accounts with Ivory but it has been only two games. He has shown fire and excitement as any man would do when fighting for a spot next year. I say run him until he is injured or fumbles, let's just hope it does not cost us the game if/when it happens.